The following appears in the "Blog" of the "Claims Conference" at the following link:

http://blog.claimscon.org/2011/03/15/connect2-honors-volunteers

Growing up in Guyana, Alexis Whitehead never heard of the Holocaust until she came to the United States. After her grandmother passed away last year, she wanted to get involved in volunteer work and found Connect2, which pairs volunteer visitors with elderly Holocaust survivors in New York. Alexis now regularly visits 81-year-old Rosa Scheck, and encourages her friends and children ages 9, 11, and 19 to learn more about the Holocaust and, especially, Connect2. I want them to know, she said. Not enough people even know about the Holocaust.

I learned of Alexis earlier this month after a March 3 volunteer appreciation event for Connect2, a Claims Conference-funded project of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island. More than 60 Connect2 volunteers visit survivors in the New York area weekly, doing chores, running errands, and, most importantly, providing personal connections.

Caroline Pincus lost family during the Holocaust and grew up hearing stories about what they went through, but because her grandparents passed away when she was young, she never had the chance to bond with somebody of that generation, she said. Like Alexis, Caroline has heard inspirational stories of survival during her time with Connect2 and she has learned from the bravery and strength of Holocaust survivors, said.

Its so important to get involved, to be there for these people who dont have family, Caroline said. We consider them survivors because they were lucky enough to physically survive but what they went through was so [emotionally] grueling.

As he welcomed the volunteers to the event, Elhanon Marvit, special consultant for social work and programmatic issues at Connect2 and director of administrative services at Touro College School of Social Work, recalled a parable about how an optimist sees the glass as half full, a pessimist sees it half empty, while a philanthropist wonders how much of it he can share.

We at Connect2 honor all of you sharing that glass of water with your Holocaust survivor, he told the volunteers. You help them feel right and that somebody cares. Its really most needed. Your listening and caring really makes a difference in their lives.

Most of Connect2s events take place during the day or on weekends because theyre geared toward the survivors, Elisheva Lock, Connect2s director, said afterward. This is a once-a-year event to let volunteers meet each other and share their different experiences and backgrounds, as well as favorite memories of their time with Connect2. One volunteer, Elona Litvintchouk, said she loves to read and one of the survivors she visits has a large collection of books from her late husband that she lets Elona borrow from.

Rosa Scheck and 80-year-old Theresa Nayman joined the volunteers at the dinner in appreciation for Connect2. Their presence spoke volumes as to the reason why our program is still so vital, said Elisheva.

“I love people,” Theresa said, adding that she will talk about anything with the volunteers. Now a grandmother, Theresa lost her entire immediate family during the Holocaust and wants to make sure that the world does not forget those terrible times. “They should know,” she said.

“It’s nice to have company,” Rosa said of her time with Connect2. She doesn’t like to talk about her experiences during the Holocaust and the volunteers aren’t pushy. One volunteer gave Rosa a cooking lesson, while others just talk about what’s happening in their lives. Rosa is happy knowing there are people who care enough to reach out to her. “It’s nice to know that there are a couple of organizations I can turn to if I need help,” she said.

For more information about Connect2, visit www.connect2ny.org or call (718) 449-5000, ext. 2216.

Connect2 is funded by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and has benefitted from significant supplemental support from the Leader Family Fund and The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation